Cleveland blackened thrash punks MIDNIGHT are celebrating twenty years of sonic debauchery with a massive North American tour later this Spring! Support on The 20 Years Of Hell, Speed, And Sleaze USA Tour will be provided by Spirit Adrift and Spiter from May 1st through May 20th, then Early Moods and Necrofier from June 1st through June 16th. Tickets are on sale now. See all confirmed dates below.
MIDNIGHT w/ Spirit Adrift, Spiter: 5/01/2023 The Pyramid Scheme – Grand Rapids, MI 5/02/2023 Mag Bar – Louisville, KY 5/03/2023 The Radio Room – Greenville, SC 5/05/2023 Underbelly – Jacksonville, FL 5/06/2023 The Orpheum – Tampa, FL 5/07/2023 Gramps – Miami, FL 5/09/2023 Chelsea’s Live – Baton Rouge, LA 5/13/2023 Vibes Event Center – San Antonio, TX 5/14/2023 89th Street – Oklahoma City, OK 5/15/2023 The Vanguard – Tulsa, OK 5/16/2023 Red Flag – St. Louis, MO 5/18/2023 Reggies – Chicago, IL 5/19/2023 Hoosier Dome – Indianapolis, IN 5/20/2023 Preserving Underground – New Kensington, PA w/ Early Moods, Necrofier: 6/01/2023 HQ – Denver, CO 6/04/2023 Red Room – Vancouver, BC 6/05/2023 Dante’s – Portland, OR 6/06/2023 El Corazon – Seattle, WA 6/07/2023 The Shredder – Boise, ID 6/09/2023 Cyprus – Reno, NV 6/10/2023 Cafe Colonial – Sacramento, CA 6/11/2023 Eli’s Mile High Club – Oakland, CA 6/13/2023 The Catalyst Atrium – Santa Cruz, CA 6/14/2023 Temblore Brewing Co. – Bakersfield, CA 6/15/2023 Soda Bar – San Diego, CA 6/16/2023 The Rock – Tucson, AZ
MIDNIGHT released their fifth full-length, LetThere Be Witchery, last Spring via Metal Blade Records. Filthy, belligerent, and obnoxious, MIDNIGHT makes music to start fights to. Since 2003, one-man-band Athenar has been churning out an ungodly racket, dropping countless demos, splits and EPs – and in 2022 he returns, delivering a catchy mixture of black metal, speed metal, and dirty punk rock. “I always want it to be loud and nasty,” he asserts. “That kinda thing never gets old with me. How funny will that look to see me at age 77 – if I reach that point – sitting on the porch blasting Hellhammer?” Preview and purchase Let There Be Witchery at THIS LOCATION.
Los Angeles-born heavy metal icons ALCATRAZZ will release their new studio album, Take NoPrisoners, via Silver Lining Music on May 19th.
ALCATRAZZ is determined to make up for lost time, roaring forwards at warp factor ten to deliver Take No Prisoners, their sixth studio album and the third in three years. Comprised of ten cracking, charismatic tracks, with each containing the unique fusion of classic American rock with the full grain hard-rocking attitude of British heavy metal, Take No Prisonerssees ALCATRAZZ energetically soaring and exploring melodic progression with road-warrior riffs. “Little Viper” rides a scything guitar into a thunderous, Dio-like assault, whilst the band also show their calmer, more expansive side with the epic “Strangers,” but when an album finishes at the burn point of “Bring On The Rawk,” there can be no question that ALCATRAZZ’s collective boot is repeatedly kicking serious ass!
Comprised of Doogie White (vocals), Joe Stump (guitars), Jimmy Waldo (keyboards), Gary Shea (bass), and Larry Paterson (drums), with Giles Lavery and Waldo producing, Take No Prisoners is a loudly, and proudly classic rock album which draws on the ALCATRAZZ traditions of technically excellent screaming guitars, thunderous rhythm, and the sort of vocals and overall aura that evoke prime Dio and Rainbow. And of course, a primed and fully tuned-up ALCATRAZZ, whose career is fast taking on Benjamin Button proportions.
Take No Prisoners will be released on digipak CD, 12” Black vinyl, digital download, streaming and special D2C bundles. Preorders are available at THIS LOCATION.
ALCATRAZZ: Jimmy Waldo – keyboards Gary Shea – bass Doogie White – lead vocals Joe Stump – guitar Larry Paterson – drums
Yes, I bought the CD version of Metallica’s 72Seasons at midnight! Thank God for CatacombRecords in Kettering, Ohio! Tim (the owner) had a listening party for 72 Seasons with complimentary pizza and pop. Is that Metal or what!? Thus when the clock struck midnight, I was buying!!
I was so excited to get this new Metallica CD that I freaking forgot to put it into the car CD player! WTF!! I had my wife’s car; my ancient car only plays cassette. Still, I’m grateful. Tim at Catacomb Records also had a free litho of the 72 Seasons album cover along with a pack of 3 72 Seasons guitar pics! I’ll post the pics of those later cuz I’m half asleep doing this post right now.
I love Metallica. Forever.
Here are some pics of Catacomb Records:
Old school and current Metal selection at Catacomb Records here is AMAZING!!Being inside Catacomb Records is like transporting back to 1982. No shit. Check out the pizza boxes! Yeah!Tim has all the Metal details at his store. Skulls are forever Metal!
Canadian sci-fi metal innovators VOIVOD are celebrating 40 eventful years of existence in 2023 and are pleased to announce a special Anniversary studio album entitled Morgöth Tales, to be released on July 21st, 2023 via Century Media Records.
Once more recorded and mixed by Francis Perron at RadicArt Studio, mastered by Maor Appelbaum and produced by VOIVOD, Morgöth Tales includes fresh studio (re-)recordings by the band’s current line-up of 9 especially selected, not-so-obvious picks from the band’s hyper-classy and extremely diverse back catalogue (between 1984 and 2003) as well as a brand-new song in the album’s title-track, “Morgöth Tales”.
VOIVOD drummer Michel “Away” Langevin commented about Morgöth Tales as follows: “’Morgöth Tales’ covers 40 years of space exploration. It was really exciting for us to revisit a more obscure part of the Voïvod catalogue, from thrash-punk to prog-metal to…? The title track is a new song, which we started writing in the tour bus and hotels during the Opeth European tour in November/December 2022. It has the vibe of the experimental music we are doing nowadays, with a new twist I think. We also had the great thrill of getting E-Force and Jasonic involved on this album. I hope you’ll dig it, Chewy, Rocky, Snake and I certainly had a blast recording it. All aboard and ready for take off!“
VOIVOD – “Morgöth Tales” 1. Condemned To The Gallows (2023 Version) [Originally on Metal Massacre V Compilation, 1984] 2, Thrashing Rage (2023 Version) [Originally on “Rrröööaaarrr”, 1986] 3. Killing Technology (2023 Version) [Originally on “Killing Technology”, 1987] 4. Macrosolutions To Megaproblems (2023 Version) [Originally on“Dimension Hatröss”, 1988] 5. Pre-Ignition (2023 Version) [Originally on “Nothingface”, 1989] 6. Nuage Fractal (2023 Version) [Originally on “Angel Rat”, 1991] 7. Fix My Heart (2023 Version) [Originally on “The Outer Limits”, 1993] 8. Rise (2023 Version, feat. Eric Forrest) [Originally on “Phobos”, 1997] 9. Rebel Robot (2023 Version, feat. Jason Newsted) [Originally on “Voivod”, 2003] 10. Morgöth Tales [New Song]
Next up, VOIVOD are kicking off their 40thAnniversary touring cycle this upcoming weekend in The Netherlands & the UK, so better check the band’s comprehensive listing of upcoming shows here:
VOIVOD – Europe & UK Tour: Apr. 16, 2023 – Eindhoven (The Netherlands) – Prognosis Festival Apr. 18, 2023 – Bristol (UK) – The Fleece + Cryptic Shift Apr. 19, 2023 – Glasgow (UK) – Slay + Cryptic Shift Apr. 20, 2023 – Manchester (UK) – Rebellion + Cryptic Shift Apr. 21, 2023 – Southampton (UK) – The 1865 + Cryptic Shift Apr. 22, 2023 – London (UK) – Prognosis Festival
VOIVOD – USA Tour w/ Imperial Triumphant: May 9, 2023 – Asheville, NC – Orange Peel * no Imperial Triumphant May 10, 2023 – Virginia Beach, VA – Elevation 27 * no Imperial Triumphant May 11, 2023 – Philadelphia, PA – Underground Arts May 12, 2023 – New York, NY – The Bowery May 13, 2023 – Baltimore, MD – Soundstage May 14, 2023 – Charlotte, NC – The Underground May 16, 2023 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Revolution Live May 17, 2023 – Tampa, FL – Floridian May 18, 2023 – Atlanta, GA – Center Stage May 19, 2023 – New Orleans, LA – House of Blues May 20, 2023 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall May 21, 2023 – Austin, TX – Come and Take It May 23, 2023 – Pensacola, FL – The Vinyl Music Hall * no Imperial Triumphant
VOIVOD – Europe Tour: May 26, 2023 – Wiesbaden (Germany) – Schlachthof w/ Testament, Exodus May 27, 2023 – Ulm (Germany) – Roxy May 28, 2023 – Munich (Germany) – Backstage w/ Testament, Exodus May 30, 2023 – Lyon (France) – Transbordeur w/ Testament, Exodus May 31, 2023 – Pratteln (Switzerland) – Z7 w/ Testament, Exodus June 1, 2023 – Trezzo sull’Adda / Milano (Italy) – Live Club w/ Testament, Exodus June 2, 2023 – Ljubljana (Slovenia) – Kino Siska w/ Testament, Exodus June 3, 2023 – Stuttgart (Germany) – Im Wizemann w/ Testament, Exodus June 5, 2023 – Berlin (Germany) – Columbia Theater w/ Testament, Exodus June 7, 2023 – Budapest (Hungary) – Durer Kert June 8, 2023 – Salzburg (Austria) – Rockouse Bar June 9, 2023 – Prague (Czech Republic) – Futurum June 10, 2023 – Gdansk (Poland) – Mystic Festival June 13, 2023 – Hamburg (Germany) – Markthalle w/ Testament, Exodus June 14, 2023 – Amersfoort (The Netherlands) – Flour June 15, 2023 – Wasquehal / Lille (France) – The Black Lab June 17, 2023 – Clisson (France) – Hellfest June 18, 2023 – Dessel (Belgium) – Graspop Metal Meeting June 22-24, 2023 – Oslo (Norway) – Tons of Rock Festival Aug. 3-5, 2023 – Wacken (Germany) – Wacken Open Air Aug. 11-12, 2023 – Helsinki (Finland) – Helsinki Metal Festival And more international dates to be announced soon…
Morgöth Tales succeeds VOIVOD’s 15th (!) much acclaimed and Juno Awards winning studio album “Synchro Anarchy”, which entered sales charts upon release in early 2022 as follows: Germany # 7 (!), Switzerland # 64, Austria # 67, The Netherlands # 88, Belgium # 129, UK (Rock & Metal) # 7, Canada (Hard Music) # 2, USA Current Hard Music # 8, USA Top New Artist # 11, USA Heatseekers # 56 and USA Current Album # 67. VOIVOD also released the special “Ultraman – EP” in late 2022, which contains a highly original tribute to the “Ultraman” TV series theme.
Tampere, Finland -based thrash metal act OSIRISREX – led by US thrasher Superstar Joey Severance have unleashed the second single ‘The Meek Shall Inherit’ taken from their forthcoming debut EP “Arrival of the New Dawn”!
Also check out the first single ‘Lone Wolf Terror’, feat. on solo: Michael “Big Maaaan” Rutten, at https://youtu.be/IL-BAxGFLl0
“Arrival of the New Dawn” recording lineup: Superstar Joey Severance – Vocals Ben Varon – All Guitars (except where noted) and Bass (Session Musician) Oskari Niemi – Drums (Session Musician)
Music and Lyrics: Superstar Joey Severance Produced, Mixed and Engineered by: Ben Varon Mastered by: Ben Varon and Oskari Niemi
Tracklisting:
The Meek Shall Inherit
Arrival of the New Dawn
Lone Wolf Terror (Solo: Michael “Big Maaaan” Rutten)
Hot Stuff (Donna Summer Cover)
More on OSIRIS REX:
Rising from the ashes of TORNADO comes OSIRIS REX. With Tornado, vocalist Superstar Joey Severance recorded three albums (Amsterdamn, Hellsinki – Black President – Commitment to Excellence) with the debut being produced by Peter Tagtgren and their last album featuring such metal heavyweights as Karl Sanders (Nile) Glen Drover (ex-Megadeth) and Ross Dolan (Immolation). All three albums received positive reviews worldwide and the band did a European tour supporting Six Feet Under.
Soon after the tour ended, and right before the start of the pandemic, SJS decided to disband Tornado for personal reasons and move forward with a new lineup which will become Osiris Rex.
The four-song debut EP, “Arrival of the New Dawn” showcases the musical direction the band is taking which is not too far removed from Tornado. Stay tuned!
With a focus on writing great, catchy songs, Osiris Rex are looking to advance the thrash genre for a new generation!
April 11, 2023, Eureka, Calif. – Mr. Bungle, who venture out on their first post-pandemic tour dates this May as part of the Ipecac Recordings’ Geek Show, have added an eastern swing to their slate of 2023 outings, with new performances added for several cities including New York, Boston, and Toronto.
The dates, which mark the band’s first shows on the East Coast (with the exception of New York City) in 23 years, find Mr. Bungle once again featuring their The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny Demo line-up (Mike Patton, Trevor Dunn, Trey Spruance, Scott Ian and Dave Lombardo).
Tickets for the newly announced performances are on-sale this Friday at 10 am est. Joining Mr. Bungle for the September outings is Battles, reuniting Patton and Dunn with their Tomahawk bandmate, John Stanier.
Ipecac Geek Show featuring Mr. Bungle, Melvins and Spotlights:
May 10 Pomona, CA Fox Theater May 11 Los Angeles, CA Palladium May 13 Las Vegas, NV Sick New World Festival May 14 Las Vegas, NV House of Blues May 16 Denver, CO Mission Ballroom May 17 Salt Lake City, UT Union Event Center May 19 Seattle, WA Showbox May 20 Seattle, WA Showbox May 21 Portland, OR Crystal Ballroom May 23 Oakland, CA Fox Theater May 24 Oakland, CA Fox Theater
Mr. Bungle with special guests, Battles:
September 5 Baltimore, MD Rams Head Live September 6 Philadelphia, PA The Fillmore September 8 New York, NY Terminal 5 September 11 Boston, MA Roadrunner September 12 Montreal, QC MTelus September 13 Toronto, ON History September 15 Detroit, MI The Fillmore Detroit
Photo credit: Buzz Osborne
Mr. Bungle was formed in an impoverished lumber and fishing town by a trio of curious, volatile teenagers. Trey Spruance, Mike Patton and Trevor Dunn beget the amorphous “band” in 1985 up in Humboldt County, Calif., sifting through a variety of members until 1988 when drummer Danny Heifetz and saxophonist Bär McKinnon joined the group. In 1989, Mr. Bungle signed to Warner Bros. Records. No one really knows how this happened and it remains a complete mystery that even the algorithms of the internet can’t decode. Up until 2000 they released three albums (Mr. Bungle in 1991, Disco Volante in 1995 and California in 1999), toured a good portion of the Western hemisphere and avoided any sort of critical acclaim.
Some argue that the band subsequently broke up but there is also no proof of this. What is true is that they took 20 years off from performing under said moniker while they pursued various other musics that, in contrast, paid the rent. In 2020, a different iteration of Mr. Bungle emerged, pairing the original trio of Dunn, Patton and Spruance with Anthrax’s Scott Ian and former Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo for a proper release of the Eureka-bred band’s unreleased demo, The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny.
Heavy metal icons ARMORED SAINT will return to the stage this August as direct support to W.A.S.P.! The 40th Never Stops World Tour 2023 begins August 4th in San Luis Obispo, California and winds its way through nearly three dozen cities, coming to a close September 16th in Los Angeles, California.
Comments vocalist John Bush: “Hello SAINTloyalists! We’re happy to inform you guys that, due to the overwhelming response we got on the W.A.S.P./SAINT tour we did last Winter, we decided to do another leg this late Summer/early Fall: The W.A.S.P./ARMORED SAINT 40th Anniversary tour part 2! This is going to happen in August and September. We will be doing about thirty more shows. The plan is to go to cities we didn’t do on the last run with a few exceptions of some places where we will be returning. There will be some cities that ARMORED SAINT hasn’t played in many, many years as well as some we’ve never played in our history! We’re also happy to be going to Canada including Vancouver, which we haven’t played since 1985. Too bad it won’t be hockey season. It’s gonna be awesome! Thanks as always for all your support, and who knows, maybe we can bring this tour to some other continents on planet earth. Thanks also to [W.A.S.P.]’s Blackie [Lawless] and the guys for making it happen again. Stay healthy and metal!”
Tickets go on sale this Friday, April 14th at 10:00am local time. See all confirmed dates below.
ARMORED SAINT w/ W.A.S.P.: 8/04/2023 Fremont Theater – San Luis Obispo, CA 8/05/2023 Hard Rock Live – Wheatland, CA 8/07/2023 Roseland – Portland, OR 8/08/2023 Vogue Theater – Vancouver, BC 8/10/2023 Moore Theater – Seattle, WA 8/11/2023 Podium – Spokane, WA 8/12/2023 Revolution Concert Hall – Garden City, ID 8/13/2023 The Depot – Salt Lake City, UT 8/15/2023 Steelhouse – Omaha, NE 8/16/2023 The Fillmore Minneapolis – Minneapolis, MN 8/17/2023 The Rust Belt – Moline, IL 8/18/2023 RCU Theater – Eau Claire, WI 8/19/2023 Horizon Events Center – Clive, IA 8/20/2023 Hard Rock Live – Gary, IN 8/22/2023 GLC Live @ 20 Monroe – Grand Rapids, MI 8/23/2023 Egyptian Room – Indianapolis, IN 8/24/2023 Capitol Theater – Wheeling, WV 8/25/2023 Sherman Theater – Stroudsburg, PA 8/26/2023 Hammerstein Ballroom – New York, NY 8/27/2023 Hampton Beach Casino – Hampton, NH 8/29/2023 Dome @ Oakdale – Wallingford, CT 8/30/2023 The Fillmore – Philadelphia, PA 8/31/2023 Packard Music Hall – Warren, OH 9/01/2023 Danforth Music Hall – Toronto, ON 9/03/2023 Mtellus – Montreal, QC 9/05/2023 Andrew J Brady Music Center – Cincinnati, OH 9/07/2023 Graceland – Memphis, TN 9/08/2023 The Hall – Little Rock, AR 9/09/2023 Southside Ballroom – Dallas, TX 9/10/2023 Criterion – Oklahoma City, OK 9/13/2023 Rialto Theater – Tucson, AZ 9/14/2023 House Of Blues – San Diego, CA 9/16/2023 The Palladium – Los Angeles, CA
ARMORED SAINT released their Symbol OfSalvation Live CD/DVD in 2021 via Metal Blade Records. The release came in celebration of the seminal album’s 30th anniversary. A record vocalist John Bush refers to as the band’s “cornerstone record,” Symbol Of Salvation Live is a combination live album and video of the band playing the album in its entirety at New York City’s famed Gramercy Theatre during their 2018 tour. It captures the power, diversity, and peerless songwriting contained within. “I felt like showing Symbol… in another light was a great homage to the record itself,” states bassist Joey Vera. “Also, having all the fans be there and part of that event is a way for us to say, ‘Thank you!’ For, without them, we can’t do any of this in the first place.”
Preview and purchase Symbol Of Salvation Live at THIS LOCATION.
ARMORED SAINT: John Bush – vocals Jeff Duncan – guitars Phil Sandoval – guitars Joey Vera – bass Gonzo Sandoval – drums
Over the last several years I have sold many CDs that I no longer listen to and were just taking up space. It’s all about managing the physical space that I have. No regrets and the money I made was useful.
However, once a collector always a collector! Since January of this year, I have steadily purchased new CDs to add to my collection. Here are a handful of the CDs I’ve purchased this far in 2023. Please feel free to comment on mine and your CD buys.
SINISTERAggressive Measures – (1998) – Legendary Death Metal from the NetherlandsJERRY ONLY – ANTI-HERO(2022)SLAYER – LIVE UNDEAD (1984)
I LOVE DEATH METAL!! With that said, SINISTER was a must purchase. I never owned SLAYERLIVE UNDEAD on CD, crazy as that sounds. I did own it on cassette and had it for decades. Anything MISFITS and take my money! The first ever JERRY ONLY solo album really, really ROCKS!! Holy shit, it ROCKS!!
I haven’t kept up with buying all of the Yngwie Malmsteen releases over the decades. There are so many too. So I decided to buy the Yngwie Malmsteen CD box set to re-energize my loyalty to his mind bending guitar virtuosity. Man, back in the 1980’s Yngwie was my ultimate Metal hero. Metal Be Thy Name – Stone
Ohio thrashers WAR CURSE have released their song “Shadow Gods” exclusively on Bandcamp. The song has been released in order to raise funds for victims of the East Palestine Ohio train derailment.
Guitarist Justin Roth comments:
“We wrote a ton of material for our upcoming album, a lot of which ended up on the cutting room floor. Shadow Gods is a fun, ripping thrasher that Blaine and I constructed in around 20 minutes, start to finish. We knew it didn’t match the vibe of the album but recorded it anyway, just for fun. It might have never seen the light of day, but the tragedy in East Palestine, Ohio, our home state, really struck a nerve. The lyrics to Shadow Gods felt like they were written about this very situation. Faceless organizations ‘gambling with consequence.’ ‘Failing comes at your expense.’ People are suffering right now, months later, because a soulless corporation prioritized appeasing stockholders over taking responsibility. Absolute scumbags.
We’re a small band from Ohio, but we’re here to do our part. All proceeds from Shadow Gods purchased through Bandcamp will be donated to a local 501c3 benefiting the impacted citizens of East Palestine, OH. “
All Five Atlantic Albums Newly Remastered by Andy Pearce! Includes Replica Tour Book, Poster, Bumper Sticker & More! With (2) RATT “Best of” records gone platinum plus over the years, this is by far the coolest representation of the records all on vinyl 6/2023. To be released by BMG.
“The Atlantic Years” limited edition box set, celebrating RATT’s massively successful period where all five of their studio albums were certified GOLD, PLATINUM or MULTI-PLATINUM (for combined album sales of over 20 MILLION).
The LP set includes all five albums remastered on 180g black vinyl, plus rare “Nobody Rides forFree” 7″ singlewhich is a rare track from the film PointBreak (Exclusive to the LP Box), 12-page replica tour book (featuring rare and never-before-seen photos from Ratt’s personal archives), 11″x17″ wanted poster, bumper sticker, replica backstage pass, and guitar pick in a custom lift-top box.
All albums feature the classic lineup of Stephen Pearcy (vocals), Warren DeMartini (guitars), Robbin Crosby (guitars), Juan Croucier (bass), and Bobby Blotzer (drums). Formed in Los Angeles in 1981 by frontman lead singer songwriter Stephen Pearcy.
Limited to 4,000 Units in North America All Five Atlantic Records Albums: Out of the Cellar (1984), Invasion of Your Privacy (1985), DancingUndercover (1986), Reach for the Sky (1988) & Detonator (1990)
“Dancing Undercover” on Vinyl for the First Time Since 1987 – “Reach for the Sky” on Vinyl for the First Time Since 1988 – “Detonator” on Vinyl for the First Time Since 1990
I’m thrilled that Guardians Of The Galaxy Volume3 is hitting up theaters on May 5th. Yes, I’m a fan. I’ve watched the first trailer for the final installment of this amazing franchise at least a dozen times already. Marvel Studios is mandatory escapism for me.
The Rainbow classic cover song “Since You’ve Been Gone” (from 1979’s Down To Earth) is played throughout the trailer for Guardians Of The Galaxy Volume 3. I’m ecstatic over this! I’ve had this song on my Spotify playlist for a long time and have forever loved this song. Kudos to Rainbow and especially Graham Bonnet for this immense return to worldwide exposure; it’s been long overdue! For all the fact nerds out there, this song was written and performed back in 1976 by Russ Ballard.
In case you’ve been living on the dark side of the moon this past week, legendary guitarist Mick Mars was sued by Mötley Crüe and he thus counter sued. The short story is: Mötley Crüe believes Mick Mars quit the band once he quit touring. Mick Mars believed he never quit the band and only resigned from touring due to health reasons. Ugh. It’s a hot mess. Just google this story for all the mud slinging details. If I’m picking sides, based on what I’ve researched, I’m in the Mick Mars camp.
“This is a journey, an adventure, and a mission.” – Hawthorne Heights
April 7, 2023, Dayton – Hawthorne Heights, who brought the inaugural year of “Is For Lovers Festival” to three cities (Wichita, Denver and Cincinnati) in 2022, have expanded the Summer extravaganza to eight locations for 2023: Hawaii (April 29), Lake Tahoe (June 24), Denver (July 22), Manteo, N.C. (July 29), Council Bluffs (Aug. 19 & 20), Cincinnati (Sept. 9), Pelham, Tenn. (Sept. 10), and Mansfield, Mass. (Sept. 17).
“In year one, we got to go to a few of our favorite cities, with bands that are our friends, and some bands that we simply love,” explains JT Woodruff, Hawthorne Heights’ vocalist and co-curator of the “Is For Lovers Festival.” “We want to give fans an inclusionary place to go that features a wide variety of bands from all walks of life, and we want to do it with a smile on our face, because we have chosen to work with people who we love and respect. The most important part for us is to make sure that the fan experience is equal to the band experience. We just want everyone to have fun, and have an easy day together.”
Artists, which vary from location to location, include Jimmy Eat World, Thrice, Alkaline Trio, The Story So Far, 3OH!3, Bayside, Underoath, State Champs, Mayday Parade, Thursday, and more. See below for line-ups by location.
“Is For Lovers Festival” also makes a point of incorporating local businesses, both via the food options on site but also featuring an adjacent marketplace and activities area showcasing local makers and creators. There will be onsite activations designed to give the fans a fun and unique way to enjoy their time in between seeing their favorite artists. Back for the second year will be a coffee booth, which is partnered with a local coffee shop, and helped run by the band. JT adds: “I had a lot of fun masquerading as a barista last year and serving Hawthorne Heights themed drinks like ‘Oat-Hio is for Lovers, which was a crowd pleaser… so why not run it back?”
Tickets for all dates are on-sale with VIP options available simultaneously. Visit Isforloversfestival.com for additional info and ticketing links.
“Is For Lovers Festival” dates:
April 29 – Hawaii Is For Lovers – Wet n’ Wild Water Park June 24 – Lake Tahoe Is For Lovers – Outdoor Arena at Harveys July 22 – Colorado Is For Lovers – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre July 29 – OBX Is For Lovers – Roanoke Island Festival Park August 19 & 20 – Iowa Is For Lovers – Harrah’s Council Bluffs September 9 – Ohio Is For Lovers – PNC at Riverbend Amphitheatre September 10 – Tennessee Is For Lovers – The Caverns September 17 – Massachusetts Is For Lovers – Xfinity Center
“Hawaii Is For Lovers”: Bayside, Mayday Parade, State Champs, Hawthorne Heights, Emery
“OBX Is For Lovers”: Thrice, Bayside, Hawthorne Heights, 3OH!3, Four Year Strong, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Emery, and Frontside.
“Iowa Is For Lovers”: The Story So Far, Thrice, Bayside, Mayday Parade, Silverstein, Anberlin, Hawthorne Heights, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Emery, Spitalfield, The Forecast, and Proper.
“Ohio Is For Lovers”: Jimmy Eat World, Alkaline Trio, Underoath, State Champs, Saosin, Hawthorne Heights, The Starting Line, Relient K, KennyHoopla, Four Year Strong, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Emery, Spitalfield, Motherfolk, The Missed, Sign Language, Slutbomb, Skye Wallace, Proper., Nox Novacula, Knavery, Life In Idle, Xanny Stars, and Lost Henry.
“Tennessee Is For Lovers”: Underoath, Bayside, Mayday Parade, Thursday, State Champs, Hawthorne Heights, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Emery, Spitalfield, Winona Fighter, Proper., Khamsin, Skye Wallace, and a special acoustic performance by Hawthorne Heights in The Cave.
Line-ups for “Colorado Is For Lovers,” “Lake Tahoe Is For Lovers,” and “Massachusetts Is For Lovers” will be revealed soon.
Photo credit: Courtney Kiara
Hawthorne Heights formed in Dayton, Ohio in 2001. The band has released seven albums over the past 22 years: The Silence in Black and White (2004), If Only You Were Lonely (2006), Fragile Future (2008), Skeletons (2010), Zero (2013), Bad Frequencies (2018) and The Rain Just Follows Me (2021). Alternative Press dubbed them “the kings of writing knockout choruses,” Rolling Stone hailed them as the “grassroots chart kings,” in a nod to the band’s many impressive Billboard debuts including four of their seven albums in the Top 100, and New Noisedescribed their music as “effortless joy.” Hawthorne Heights is JTWoodruff (vocals/guitar), Matt Ridenour (bass), Mark McMillon (guitar), and Chris Popadak (drums).
June 2nd, 2023 in the US will see dark and extreme metal masters, GRAVEWORM, return with their brand new album, entitled Killing Innocence, through AFM Records. It’s the band’s first studio album in eight long years!
Following previously released first singles, “Dead Words” and “Escorting The Soul”, today, GRAVEWORM have premiered a video for their latest single “We Are The Resistance”, now streaming HERE
Formed in 1997, with nine studio records under their belt and countless tours with bands such as Kataklysm, Vader, Satyricon and Destruction to name just a few, GRAVEWORM belongs to one of the most influential acts the dark and extreme metal scene has to offer. The band’s upcoming magnum opus Killing Innocence showcases their own blend of thrash, gothic and death metal is as powerful as ever, GRAVEWORM has not lost any of their hardness and energy over the years.
The ten new songs on Killing Innocence are characterized by dark atmospheres, powerful riffs and driving drums that captivate the listener. The album is a tribute to the band’s roots, yet produced in a contemporary and fresh way, an absolute must-have for fans of dark but captivating metal. With Killing Innocence, GRAVEWORM impressively proves that they belong to the best representatives of their genre, with an album that is poised to top the best-of lists in 2023!
Ripple Muisc have released Nebula Ripples, a compilation album to benefit NEBULA bassist Tom Davies.
Recently, Tom was diagnosed with Leukemia and is now fighting the disease with all his strength. Although NEBULA had not previously recorded with Ripple Music, everyone in the stoner rock scene knows of their powerful music. When Todd Severin, CEO of Ripple Music, heard of Tom’s fight ahead, he reached out, wanting to do anything Ripple could do to support him, and the result is this compilation.
Todd asked Tom which Ripple bands he loved playing with, and his response forms the basis of this compilation. To top it off, Tom contributed one of his own unreleased tracks to kick the compilation into gear, which features lead guitar work from Joe Hoare of ORANGE GOBLIN. Also included is a special sneak preview track from the upcoming album by KIND.
All proceeds from this album will be donated directly to Tom to help him fight his battle against cancer.
In Tom’s words, “Back in January I ended up in the ER with kidney stones which was followed by viral pneumonia and Bell’s Palsy and eventually led to me being diagnosed with a rare form of high risk Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
As it’s a very complex form, I’ve had one round of intense chemotherapy so far and am facing many more treatments and hospital visits for the fight of my life. On a positive note, my spirit is strong and has been strengthened by the overwhelming and incredible outpouring of support from the community.”
Tracklisting: Anaesthesia Amnesia -Tom Davies Cosmic Ark – Mos Generator Buffalo Chips – Yawning Man What Are They Trying to Sell – DoctoR DooM Into the Shredder – Ape Machine Drifting off to Storybook Deth – Fatso Jetson Frequencies – Steak Fat Rats – Roadsaw Favorite One – KIND The Song’s at the Bottom of the Bottle – Wino
ANVIL’s 2023 U.S. tour dates with MIDNITE HELLION:
Apr. 06 – Albany, NY @ Empire Live Apr. 07 – Garwood, NJ @ Crossroads Apr. 08 – Brooklyn, NY @ Saint Vitus Bar Apr. 13 – Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar Apr. 14 – Richmond, VA @ Richmond Music Hall Apr. 15 – Wilmington, NC @ Reggie’s 42nd St. Tavern Apr. 16 – West Columbia, SC @ New Brookland Tavern Apr. 20 – Jacksonville, FL @ Jack Rabbits Apr. 21 – West Palm Beach, FL @ Respectable Street Apr. 22 – Orlando, FL @ The Conduit Apr. 23 – Gainesville, FL @ Loosey’s Apr. 27 – Houston, TX @ Secret Group Apr. 28 – Dallas, TX @ Club Dada Apr. 29 – Austin, TX @ Come and Take It Live May 04 – Tulsa, OK @ The Vanguard May 05 – Wichita, KS @ Barleycorn’s May 06 – Des Moines, IA @ Lefty’s Live Music May 07 – Madison, WI @ Crucible May 11 – St. Louis, MO @ Red Flag May 12 – Cincinnati, OH @ Legends Bar & Venue May 13 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Pyramid Scheme
VIDEOS: Check out ‘Ghost Shadow’ video HERE Check out ‘Take A Lesson’ video HERE Check out ‘Legal At Last’ video HERE
Originally formed in 1984, Old school Florida Death Metal Legends HELLWITCH are back with their unique brand of highly energetic, incisive, Thrashing Death Metal. The band has always sounded insanely catchy, always balancing technicality to a great measure, HELLWITCH have drafted some genuine classic songs over the years and their new album is a culmination of all such works and experience.
Band leader Pat Ranieri comments about the artwork for ‘Annihilational Intercention’: ” The cover of “Annihilational Intercention” is what is coming in the future of mankind on this wretched planet. The Judge is in the final stages of administering punishment to our race, eradicating every last being. Having biologically and supernaturally evolved to possess otherworldly powers, his psychic assault is manifested in spears of burning energy and levitational force. His apocalyptic “Horsemen” look on with hatred, aiding the cause. The poisoned, decimated world that surrounds tells the tale of man left to his own devices.”
HELLWITCH’s new album ‘Annihilational Intercention’ will be released digitally on the 2nd of June , and physically on the 30th of June 2023. The band will also release a new video for the song ‘Delegated Disruption’ on April 19. More details shortly.
HELLWITCH line up: Pat Ranieri:Guitars, Vocals J.P. Brown:Guitars Brian Wilson:Drums
HELLWITCH tour dates (to be updated) Monday, June 5 The Milestone Club, Charlotte NC Tuesday, June 6 Powers BMX Shop, Richmond VA Wednesday, June 7 The Kennel at West York Inn, York PA Thursday, June 8 The Fire, Philadelphia PA Friday, June 9 Pie Shop, Washington DC Saturday, June 10 Lurking Class Skate Shop, Salisbury MD Sunday, June 11 Saint Vitus Bar, Brooklyn NY November 3/4/5 Mass Destruction fest ,the Loft, Atlanta
April 28, 2023 sees horror punk act DARKER DAYS release their much-awaited, first full-length album “The Burying Point”on Fiend Force Records, licensed by Massacre Records!
Hailing from the Halloween capitol Salem, Massachusetts, the band poured everything they had into this record and pulled inspiration from some of their favorite bands: AFI, The Misfits or Blitzkid. Lyrically, DARKER DAYS touched on things like their favorite horror movies as well as real-life hardships. Needless to say, that the dark history of their hometown Salem and all of New England – with Nathaniel Hawthorne in Salem, H.P. Lovecraft in Providence and Stephen King in Bangor – along with the bleak countryside had a big influence on them as well.
Today, DARKER DAYS are premiering a first single taken of their upcoming debut, feat. TB Monstrosity of BLITZKID! T.B. Monstrosity is the co-singer and songwriter of Horror Punk legendes Blitzkid, probably the most popular band in the genre besides the forefathers The Misfits. Blitzkid and Darker Days have been friends for years, so this collaboration has naturally grown out of their shared history. TB’s unique voice gives the song its very own atmosphere and harmonizes impressively with the melancholy of the track and Darker Days singer Mason’s vocals. Both the classic horror theme and the musical realization, as well as the guest appearance of the Blitzkid singer make “1818” an instant hit in the horror punk community.
Watch the new DARKER DAYS video for “1818”, now premiering HERE
“1818 is an ode to the work of one of our favorite authors Mary Shelly- being told from the perspective of ‘Frankenstein’s monster’ and the feelings he has of wanting to find happiness even though the world views him as a monster“, the band comments.
DARKER DAYS are: Mason Eaton – Vocals Nick Sullivan – Guitars Travis Hunter – Guitars Ron Bailey – Bass Randy Mason – Drums
Their upcoming album “The Burying Point” was produced by Chris Curran and Kyle Blamy, and was mixed and mastered by Chris Curran. Slated for a release on April 28, 2023, the album pre-sale is available at THIS LOCATION!
GOATWHORE has confirmed a round of US headlining shows this May surrounding their appearances at the Milwaukee Metal Fest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and the first annual Hell In The Harbor Fest in Baltimore, Maryland. The journey, which begins on May 21st in Fayetteville, Arkansas and runs through June 3rd in Houston, Texas, follows the band’s upcoming tour supporting Eyehategod. The 30 Years Of Take As Needed For Pain tour kicks off April 7th in New Orleans, Louisiana and makes its way through nearly two dozen cities, coming to a close on April 29th in Denton, Texas. Tickets are on sale now. See all confirmed dates below.
GOATWHORE w/ Eyehategod: 4/07/2023 Siberia – New Orleans, LA 4/08/2023 Boggs – Atlanta, GA 4/09/2023 Brass Mug – Tampa, FL 4/10/2023 Trolley Pub – Charleston, SC 4/11/2023 Hangar 1819 – Greensboro, NC 4/12/2023 Riffhouse – Chesapeake, VA 4/13/2023 Monarch – Brooklyn, NY 4/14/2023 Geno’s – Portland, ME 4/15/2023 Space Ballroom – Hamden, CT * GOATWHORE only 4/16/2023 Middle East – Boston, MA 4/17/2023 Bug Jar – Rochester, NY 4/18/2023 Sanctuary – Detroit, MI 4/19/2023 Mr. Small’s – Pittsburgh, PA 4/20/2023 Ace Of Cups – Columbus, OH 4/21/2023 Zanzabar – Louisville, KY *
GOATWHORE only: 4/22/2023 Black Circle – Indianapolis, IN 4/23/2023 Turf Club – St Paul, MN 4/24/2023 Nightshop – Bloomington, IL 4/25/2023 Wildwood – Iowa City, IA 4/26/2023 Royal Grove – Lincoln, NE 4/27/2023 Red Flag – St. Louis, MO 4/28/2023 Rev Room – Little Rock, AR 4/29/2023 Rubber Gloves – Denton, TX GOATWHORE Headlining Shows: 5/21/2023 George’s Majestic Lounge – Fayetteville, AR 5/22/2023 Growler’s – Memphis, TN 5/23/2023 Mini Bar – Kansas City, MO 5/24/2023 Outland Ballroom – Springfield, MO 5/26/2023 Milwaukee Metal Fest @ The Rave – Milwaukee, WI * festival date 5/28/2023 Hell In The Harbor Fest @ Soundstage – Baltimore, MD * festival date 5/30/2023 Madison Live – Covington, KY 5/31/2023 The Cobra – Nashville, TN 6/01/2023 Switchyard – Hattiesburg, MS 6/02/2023 Chelsea’s Live – Baton Rouge, LA 6/03/2023 Black Magic – Houston, TX
GOATWHORE continues to tour in support of their Angels Hung From The Arches Of Heaven full-length, released in October via Metal Blade Records. Their most accomplished album to date in sound, concept, and execution, the twelve-track offering earned the #9 position on Billboard’s Current Hard Music Albums chart upon its first week of release and stands among the most volatile and plainly dangerous records to come out of 2022.
Angels Hung From The Arches Of Heaven was produced by Jarrett Pritchard (Exhumed, 1349), and tracked primarily at Studio In The Country in Bogalusa, Louisiana under pandemic restrictions. Additionally, the band recruited acclaimed producer Kurt Ballou (Converge, High On Fire, Gatecreeper, Code Orange) to mix the record with final mastering duties handled by Grammy-award winning engineer Ted Jensen (Ghost, Gojira, Cult Of Luna). The record is tied together by the art of longtime collaborator Jordan Barlow whose cryptic use of sigils holds deeper meaning to the record’s totality.
Angels Hung From The Arches Of Heaven is available on CD, digitally, and LP on multiple color variants.
Finnish theatrical melodic metal band Endless Exam has released new single and music video from their upcoming album. It’s a horror movie influenced dreamlike song from the album to be released by Inverse Records in May 2023.
Endless Exam backgrounds the song:
“The lyrics of the song is about a world led by better people, where the value and contribution of an ordinary person has no meaning and they can only be used as part of the machine. Their only goal is to be able to just give orders and give the author belief that they are being heard.
However, without these parts, no machine runs. The ordinaries start to resist and the world imagined by these better people starts to fall apart. They realize that nothing works without these ordinary people. They are the basis of everything and if their value is not taken into account, the machine will not run either.”
March 29, 2023, LOS ANGELES – Dave Lombardo shares a second single from his debut solo album, Rites of Percussion (May 5 via Ipecac Recordings), with today’s release of “Separation from the Sacred” (https://youtu.be/9GiARhBaVds).
Lombardo is one of the busiest musicians working right now. Never one to rest on his laurels, the drumming pioneer recently released new albums with Dead Cross, and Venamoris, and announced Empire State Bastard, a new project with members of Biffy Clyro. He will also be hitting the road with Mr. Bungle and The Misfits in the coming months, with festival appearances with John Zorn (including Big Ears Fest in April).
The recording process for Rites of Percussion had a simple mantra: drums had to be drums. Mixed in early 2022 by Lombardo’s son, David A. Lombardo, the self-produced release features a large concert bass drum, a timpani, a grand piano, and a flock of shakers, maracas, Chinese and symphonic gongs, Native American drums, congas, timbales, bongos, batás, wood blocks, djembes, ibos, darbukas, octobans, cajóns, and cymbals.
Rites of Percussion tracklist:
Initiatory Madness
Separation from the Sacred
Inner Sanctum
Journey of the Host
Maunder in Liminality
Despojo
Interfearium
Blood Let
Warpath
Guerrero
Vicissitude
Omiero
Animismo
Album pre-orders, which include CD, digital, and three vinyl variants: standard cigar smoke, indie retail exclusive blood sacrifice, and Ipecac exclusive purple haze, are available now: https://davelombardo.lnk.to/ROP.
Photo credit: Ekaterina Gorbacheva
Dave Lombardo was born in Havana, Cuba, relocating to Los Angeles when he was a mere two-years-old. He began playing drums as a teenager, and co-founded Slayer (and created the band’s logo) in 1981.
Rolling Stone, in their list of the “100 Greatest Drummers of All Time,” dubbed him the “Cuban speed demon, “ Modern Drummerproclaimed him “The King,” and Drummer World gave him the title of “The Godfather of double bass.” Lombardo’s eye-popping resume includes over 100 studio albums/recordings and includes both recorded and live stints with Grip Inc., Fantômas, Suicidal Tendencies, Dead Cross, Mr. Bungle, The Misfits, DJ Spooky, John Zorn, Testament, and most recently creating the soulful duo Venamoris, with his wife Paula.
If you’re a band or musician and would like your music reviewed or be interviewed by Stone, please click the link under the “ALBUM REVIEWS ARCHIVES” section below!
Metal Odyssey's Rock, Hard Rock and Heavy Metal Hall of Fame! These Are The Rock And METAL Legends Wrongfully Ignored By "The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame"
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